Mike Pence accused China of acting aggressively, causing instability when obstructing Vietnam's petroleum activities in the South China Sea.

"Beijing has increased the use of 'militia' vessels to regularly intimidate Malaysian and Philippine sailors and fishermen. The Chinese landscape also seeks to prevent Vietnam from carrying out oil and gas exploitation. burning in Vietnamese waters, "said US Vice President Mike Pence yesterday in a 40-minute speech at an event organized by the Wilson Center in Washington.

Pence has criticized a series of Chinese policies, saying Beijing has not taken significant action to improve economic relations with the United States, while its moves are increasingly aggressive and destabilizing.

"The Chinese leadership, standing at the Rose Garden, the White House in 2015, once affirmed that it had no intention of militarizing the South China Sea, but it deployed modern anti-ship and air defense missiles to the islands. create illegal renovations here, "the US Vice President added.

He said that the militarization actions and China's approach to neighboring countries in the region in recent years "increasingly provocative". Pence affirmed that the US now sees China as an economic and strategic opponent, the views expressed in the 2017 National Security Strategy report and supported by a large number of Americans.

Vice President Pence's remarks came shortly before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit kicked off in Chile next month. The White House expressed hope that President Donald Trump will sign a preliminary trade agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the event.

China's Hai Duong 8 Survey Group has repeatedly violated Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the southern part of the South China Sea since July. Vietnam has repeatedly objected to China's actions. The determination of acts of obstructing Vietnam's petroleum activities in Vietnam's waters is a violation of international law and a violation of UNCLOS.

The Chinese survey vessel group has left Vietnam 's waters since October 24 and is on a journey to China, Reuters data cited marine navigation tracking website Marine Traffic said.

The Department of State, the Department of Defense, and many US officials and parliamentarians previously expressed concern about Chinese ships' invasion of Vietnamese waters. Many other countries such as Britain, France, Germany, and Japan also voiced their opposition to actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea.